Syringe



Sept. 28, 1954 s. FOX

SYRINGE Filed Jan. 20, 1950 INVEN TOR.

& MM

Aztorngy Patented Sept. 28, 1954 SYRINGE Stanley L. Fox, Los Angeles,Calif'.; Dorothy Brown Fox, executrix of said Stanley L. Fox,

deceased Application January 20, 1950, Serial No. 139,657

18 Claims. 1

easily and conveniently operated, and which has,

a very wide range of use.

Syringes are used extensively by the medical profession and heretoforesuch devices have been specially designed or developed for particularuses so that to perform various operations commonly desired or necessarya wide variety of devices must be at hand. For example, in the case ofthe taking and. handling of blood specimens it is common to employ asyringe to take the blood sample and then materials are added to thesample. In some cases preservatives are added, in other cases dyes areadded, in other cases culture media are added, etc; Ordinarily thesevarious operations require considerable handling of equipment andinvolve exposure of materials, including the blood specimen, all withthe result that there is constant danger of contamination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a syringe of the generalcharacter referred to which makes it possible to selectively add variousmaterials or various quantities of a given material to fluid beinghandled while maintaining a complete seal against contamination.

It is another object of this invention to provide a syringe constructioncharacterized by a container for handling fluid, whether a bloodspecimen or a fluid to be injected, which container has sealed withinit, in separate vessels, suitable quantities of materials available tobe selectively added to the fluid in the container, as circumstancesrequire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a syringe of the generalcharacter referred to which has various materials present for immediateuse, as desired, and which remain completely separated or sealed awayfrom the fluid in the container of the syringe until or unlessdeliberately liberated.

The structure of the present invention provides a containercharacterized by a closed flexible or collapsible'body formed completelyof a chemically inert material. In one form the container is providedwith a head and a needle is provided in communication with the body orto be established in communication with the body. The needle, ifprovided as a part of the unit formed by the container, may be carriedby a mounting that is applied to the head of the container. The

mounting may involve a simple needle-carrying fitting engaged with thehead of the container. One or more charged vessels are preferablyprovided in the container and are charged with materials ofpredetermined character and in predetermined amounts, or both. Thevessels when employed are subject to being broken or ruptured by forceor pressure applied from the exterior of the container without injury toor rupture of the container itself. An actuating means is provided forvarying pressure on the body and preferably involves a cylindrical casethat carries the container so the needle projects in a manner to beusable,

and a plunger that operates in the case to vary the pressure therein.The plunger when moved in one direction causes fluid to be drawn intothe container and when moved in the opposite direction causes fluid tobe forced from the container.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of typical preferredforms and applications of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container provided by the presentinvention showing the body thereof in collapsed condition and showing aneedle carried thereby and sealed by a cap or closure. Fig. 2 is a viewillustrating the containershown in Fig. 1 applied to the cylinder of theactuating means, part of the cylinder being broken away to show theengagement of the head of the container in the cylinder. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2 showing the plunger of the actuating means inplace in the cylinder ready to be operated so that fluid is drawn intothe container through the needle shown uncovered for use. Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3, showing the needle applied and showing theplunger operated so that a substantial amount of fluid has been drawninto the body of the container. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view ofthe container showing it partially in section and with the body of thecontainer extended from the head thereof as it is when filled withfluid. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicatedby line 6-6 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional viewtaken as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 5, and Fig, 8 is an enlargeddetailed sectional view of another form of the invention.

The structure provided by this invention is particularly applicable toor practical for the handling of blood, fluids to be introduced intotissue or into a body, and materials incidental to or to be used inconnection with such fluids. Since the 3 structure of the presentinvention is capable of various uses and can be employed to advantage ina wide variety of operation, I wish it understood that the specificstructural details set forth and as the uses referred to, are to beconsidered merely as illustrative or for purpose of example, and not asrestrictive of the scope of the invention.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '7,inclusive, the structure involves, generally, a container A, a needle B,a plurality of charged vessels D within the container, and operatingmeans involving, generally, a cylindrical case E and a plunger Foperating in the case. a singular tubular element having only onesharpened end and it is shown normally carried by and combined with thecontainer with the sharpened end projecting therefrom. In this case itis preferred to provide a sealing cap C that is normally engaged overthe projecting portion of the needle and which is removed when theneedle is used.

The container A may be merely a simple closed or sealed bag or envelopeand it may be normally or initially collapsed or empty or it may benormally full or partially charged as with a suitable liquid. Thecontainer illustrated is characterized by a body In in the form of acell or envelope of impervious, flexible material. In this particularcase the container includes a head I I on or sealed with the body In andthe head is preferably formed of impervious material which is somewhatmore rigid than the body.

In carrying out my present invention I prefer to form the container Aentirely of one or more materials of the type popularly termed plastic.The present invention contemplates that the material of the container becompletely impervious, that it be flexible or supple for manipulation bythe fingers or by simple hand-operated implements, and it is preferablytransparent. For general use in the field indicated it is highlyimportant in most cases that the container A be formed of a chemicallyinert material or plastic, that is, of a material that under normalconditions is for all practical purposes inert so far as the material ormaterials handled are concerned. When I use the term inert or chemicallyinert I mean to refer to or to include any material satisfying suchconditions. The present invention contemplates that the container be athermoplastic, that is, a material that can be fused or bonded by theapplication of a limited amount of heat. I prefer, in practice, toemploy polyethylene as the material for the container A, such materialbeing inert or chemically inert under ordinary conditions and whenhandling almost any ordinary or commonly used material or combination ofmaterials encountered in the art under consideration. Further, suchmaterial is strong and yet readily flexible when made in a sheet ofabout one-thousandth to about thirtytwo thousandths of an inch thick. Abody of such flexible or supple construction is sensitive or responsiveto slight pressure and responds to atmospheric pressure. This particularplastic is fusible or subject to being bonded by a degree of heat thatcan be easily generated, and it is available in a substantially clear ortransparent state. I

The body I of the container A in the case illustrated is an elongatetubular element with the head II sealed or bonded to one end while theother end is pinched together to be sealed and bonded at I2, as s'hownin Fig. :6 of the drawings.

In the case illustrated the needle is thermally bonded.

4 It will be understood, of course, that the body III of the containermay be of any suitable size or capacity and that its characteristicsabove named may be varied widely, as circumstances require.

The head I I bonded or secured to the body It is preferably formed sothat its wall is somewhat thicker than that of the body It, with theresult that it normally maintains a predetermined shape and it ispreferably substantially conical in form, so that it has a large, roundbase portion IE to which the body III is sealed or bonded, and a smallend or apex I6 carrying the fitting that holds the needle B.

In the particular case illustrated the end or the body II that is joinedor sealed with the head II surrounds the base portion I5 of the head andit may be merely tightly fitted thereon, or it may be permanently sealedor bonded thereto, as circumstances require.

The needle B illustrated in the drawings is of a type suitable forventipuncture and in the particular case illustrated it is shown appliedto the head I I of container A by means of a suitable fitting 20' so itis in effect a part of the unit formed mainly b the container. Thefitting is preferably formed of material corresponding to that of thecontainer A. The fitting 2E! is shown engaged in the small end or apexportion of head II Where it may be sealed or bonded, as circumstancesrequire. The needle 3 projects a substantial distance forward from thefitting 2i! and has an open end available for use. The needle is tubularand is in communication with the interior of the container A through thefitting 2B.

The closure or sealing cap C is normally engaged over the projectingportion of the needle and it preferably has sealing engagement with aprojecting portion 2| of the fitting 20. In practice the cap may beapplied over the needle at the time that the various elements areinitially formed or assembled, or when they are sterilized or otherwisetreated. The cap need not be removed to expose the needle until it isdesired to use the needle and it may be immediately applied over theneedle after use.

The charged vessels D that may be employed or provided in the containerA may vary widely in form, number, character, etc. These vessels may befor supplying material to a charge initially carried in the containerand which is to be discharged therefrom or may be for supplying materialto a charge drawn into the container.

In the form of the invention illustrated there are several vessels Dwhich are alike and which are anchored or made captive in the containerto have a predetermined location therein. In this form of the inventioneach vessel D has an envelope portion 3!! formed of a thin walled,impervious material, and this envelope portion is completely sealed toencase a body 3| of material of a predetermined nature. A taoe 32extends or projects from the envelope 30 and is bonded to the container,preferably to the body of the container. In the particular caseillustrated the tabs 32 are inserted at the end of the body I!) Wherethe body is pinched together and sealed or In practice it is preferredthat the envelopes 3D and the tabs 32 be formed of the same supplematerial as the container A, in which event the tabs inserted at thesealed end of the body II], as shown in Fig. 6, may be readily fused toor bonded with the body by the mere application of suitable heat andpressure.

The material 3! present in the envelopes 30 may vary in quantity andcharacter, as circumstances require. For example, there may be single orcommon material in each of the several envelopes, in which case a givenquantity of such material may be present ineach envelope or differentquantities may be present in the several envelopes. In such casebreaking or rupturing or" one envelope 30 will liberate a given quantityof a particular material into the body I 0 and if additional amounts ofsuch material are desired other or additional envelopes may be ruptured.In a case where one of several different materials may be required, asconditions vary, the material 3i in the several envelopes may be variedso that by rupturing or breaking a selected envelope 30 the desiredmaterial may be released into the body In of the container. Therupturing of an envelope releases material without danger ofcontamination by pieces or particles of the ruptured envelope such as islikely to follow fracture or breaking of a glass container, or the like.

By locating the envelopes 30 in a series or in a predetermined orderwithin the container and by having the several envelopes anchored insuch order, the desired envelope maybe broken by selection throughmerely determining its location in the body. As a separate means ofdeterminin the identity of envelopes 30 within the container A or tosupplement the above mentioned means of identification, I preferablyform the body Ill of the container of a transparent material and Isuitably mark or designate the envelopes 30 as by marks, symbols, ordevices visible through the wall of the body In or by suitably coloringthe envelopes 30 so that they are readily distinguishable from eachother. In the particular case illustrated suitable identifyingindications or markings are shown at 50 applied tothe tabs of theenvelopes.

In practice it is preferred that the envelopes 30 be so formed as to beconsiderably Weaker than the body I 0 of the containerA so that pressureapplied to the exterior of the body I!) may be communicated to anenvelope 30 in such manner as to rupture or break the envelope withoutin any way affecting or impairing the strength of the body Ill. When thesame material is em ployed in the construction of the envelopes as inthe construction of body In the desired relationship can be gained bymaking the walls of the envelopes substantially thinner than those ofthe body l0.

For purpose of example and to facilitate an understanding of the natureand variety of the materials that can be employed in envelopes 30 withincontainer A I will mention materials which may be commonly oradvantageously used in connection with a blood'specimen. Such materialsmay include anti-coagulants, preservatives, culture media, dyes, a widevariety of indicators, etc.

The operating means provided for handling the container and its attachedparts, as hereinabove described, may, in practice, vary Widely in formand construction. I have, for purpose of example, illustrated a simpleform of operating means characterized by the case E and the plunger F.

The case is formed by a cylinder 6| closed at one end by a wall 62. Thecylinder 6| is of such size as to suitably accommodate the body H) ofthe container while the end wall 62 is shaped and proportioned toreceive or accommodate the head ll of container A. The wall 62 isprovided with an openin or aperture which passes the apex portion ofthe'head ll so that the needle,

with the cap C thereon, may be arranged in position in the manner shownin Fig. 2.

The plunger F accurately fits the cylinder 6| so that it is sealed andslidable therein, and in practice it may have an operating stem 65guided by a removable cylinder head 66 and provided with an operatinghandle 61. In the particular case illustrated the operating rod 65 isreleasably engaged with the plunger F as by being threaded thereto, andit is engageable with either end or face of the plunger. The plunger isshown provided with an air passage 68 under control of a check valve 69and it can be inserted in the cylinder so that the valve passes air inonly one direction.

In practice the projecting or apex portion of head Il may fit tightly orsnugly into the opening 86 provided in the wall 62 so that the headremains in place as a reduced pressure is established within thecylinder 6|. If necessary a means may 'be provided for holding orretaining .the head H in position in the cylinder or adjacent the wall62. For example, the portion 85 of the head may be recessed at 81 and aclip' or retainer 88 may be carried on the exterior of the cylinder toengage in the reces 8'1 and hold the head ll securely in position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a typicalstructure provided by the invention can be used in various purposes. Forpurpose of example, if a blood specimen is to be taken and it is desiredto add one or more materials to such sample, the container A may beapplied to the case E of the operating means in the manner illustratedin Fig. 2, the container being supplied in an exhausted or empty state,in which case the body II] is fully collapsed and may be housed orreceived Within the head H. The plunger is inserted in the cylinder 6|behind the container to bear snugly against the head of the containerand it is positioned so that the valve 69 passes air as the plunger isinserted. The sealing cap C may then be removed, rendering :theapparatus ready for use on the patient.

To apply the needle the cylinder may be conveniently gripped and thehandle 6'! employed as means of thrusting the structure in a manner tosuitably introduce the needle to the point where the blood specimen isto be taken. With ,the needle applied or introduced the handle 6'1 iswithdrawn or moved away from the cylinder so that the plunger moves out,establishin a reduced pressure in the cylinder so that blood is drawnthrough the needle B and into the container, causing the body of thecontainer to fill, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the case of a typical use of the apparatus the plunger is thenremoved from the cylinder and the container removed from the cylinder,whereupon the needle can be capped and the envelope 30 containing thematerial desired to be added to the blood sample isbroken by pressureapplied from the exterior of the body If). It will be recognizedthat thematerial 3! from an envelope 30 is thus added to the blood specimen orsample without danger of contamination and with a measured or knownquantity of material 3| in the enevolpe an exact quantity of suchmaterial is added to the specimen. The container can from this point onbe handled or treated in any suitable manner, for instance, it may beimmediately subjected to laboratory treatment or it may be stored,transported, etc.

If it is important or desired to hold the sample in a sealed conditionas, for instance, for storage or for transportation, etc. the containerA may be sealed by pressing the head I I of the container A together atHI, as shown in Fig. 7, immediately adjacent the point where the headholds the fitting 20 and while the head is thus collapsed or pressedtogether at this point suitable heat may be applied, causing a sealingor bonding of the parts thus brought into contact with each other.

If the syringe is to be used for the application of fluid, as forinstance, for the purpose of injecting material, then the body H) of thecontainer A filled or charged with the material to be injected isarranged in the cylinder 61 and the plunger, with the valve positionedto close as the plunger moves forward, is arranged in the cylinderbehind the container. The needle can be handled in substantially thesame manner as above described, and to feed fluid through the needle theplunger is thrust forward by forward pressure applied to the handle 61.It will be understood that if materials are desired to be added to thatbeing injected the desired envelope or envelopes in the body l may befractured or broken.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, thehead II of the container A is formed to be substantially rigid and thecylinder BI, instead of having an end wall 62 attaches to the baseportion of the head I I as by means of threads 80. In other respects thegeneral relationship of the actuating means and container may besubstantially the same as above described. In the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 8 the envelopes 3i! instead of being captive, or anchored,in the body Ill of container A are loose or free, and may be in thenature of sealed or closed capsules to be identified or selected throughvariations in color, size, shape, etc.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish toreserve to myself any variations ormodifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material, a manually ru'pturable supple materialcarrying vessel within the container and subject to being ruptured bymanual pressure applied through the container, and a tubular needleproviding communication with the container and projecting therefrom, thecontainer being adapted to be deformed by the hand of a user sufficientto effect rupture of the said vessel.

2. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material having a head, a rupturable materialcarrying vessel within the container and formed of the same material asthe container and having a wall thickness substantially less than thatof the container and subject to being ruptured by manual pressureapp-lied through the container and such as will flex but not rupture thecontainer, and a tubular needle carried by the head in communicationwith the container and proj ecting therefrom.

3. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material and subject to being flexed but notruptured by pressure applied directly thereto from the hand of a user, aplurality of supple rupturable material carrying vessels within thecontainer and subject to being ruptured by pressure from the hand of auser applied through the container from the exterior thereof, and atubular needle in communication with the container and projectingtherefrom.

4. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material and adapted to be freely flexed but notruptured by the direct application of pressure to the exterior thereofby the hand of a user, a supple material carrying vessel within thecontainer and subject to being burst by pressure applied by the hand ofthe user through the container from the exterior thereof, and a tubularneedle in communication with the container and projecting therefrom, thecontainer and the vessel being formed of chemically inert material.

5. A device of the character described including, a. closed imperviouscontainer of supple material and subject to being flexed but notruptured by pressure applied directly thereto from the hand of a user, asupple material carrying vessel within the container and subject tobeing burst by pressure applied thereto by the hand of the user andthrough the container, and a tubular needle in communication with thecontainer and projecting therefrom, the container and vessel being ofthe same material and the wall of the vessel being substantially thinnerthan that of the container.

6. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material and subject to being flexed but notruptured by pressure applied directly thereto from the hand of a user, asupple material carrying vessel within the container and subject tobeing ruptured by pressure applied thereto by the hand of the user andthrough the container, and a tubular needle in communication with thecontainer and projecting therefrom, the container and vessel beingformed of the same chemically inert material, the wall of the vesselbeing thinner than that of the container.

7. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple thermoplastic material adapted to be freely flexedby pressure applied directly to the exterior thereof by the hand of auser but not subject to rupture by such pressure, a supple materialcarrying vessel within the container and subject to being ruptured bypressure applied thereto by the hand of the user through the containerfrom the exterior thereof, and a tubular needle in communication .withthe container and projecting therefrom.

8. A device of the character described including, a closed container ofsupple material adapted to be freely flexed by pressure applied directlyto the exterior thereof by the hand of a user but not subject to ruptureby such pressure, a supple material carrying vessel Within the containerand subject to being ruptured by pressure applied by the hand of theuser through the container from the exterior thereof, and a tubularneedle in communication with the container and projecting therefrom, thecontainer and the vessel being formed of polyethylene.

9. In combination, a closed container having a head and a supple bodyadapted to be flexed by pressure applied to the exterior thereofdirectly from the hand of a user and not subject to rupture by suchpressure, a tubular needle carried by the head and projecting therefrom,a supple material carrying vessel within the body and adapted to beruptured by presure applied by the hand of the user at the exterior ofthe container,

and actuating means including a cylinder carrying the container, and aplunger operating in the cylinder to vary pressure therein, the cylinderhaving an end supporting the head of the con tainer.

10. In combination, a closed container having a head and a supple bodyadapted to be flexed by pressure applied to the exterior thereofdirectly from the hand of a. user and not subject to rupture by suchpressure, a tubular needle carried by the head and projecting therefrom,a supple material carrying vessel within the body and adapted to beruptured by pressure applied by the hand of the user at the exterior ofthe container, and actuating means including a cylinder carrying thecontainer, and a plunger operating in the cylinder to vary pressuretherein, one end of the cylinder being releasably connected to the headof the container.

11. In combination, a closed container having a head and a supple bodyadapted to be flexed by pressure applied to the exterior thereofdirectly from the hand of a user and not subject to rupture by suchpressure, a tubular needle carried by the head and projecting therefrom,a plurality of supple material carrying vessels within the body eachadapted to be ruptured by pressure applied by the hand of the user atthe exterior of the container, and actuating means including a cylindercarrying the container, and a plunger operating in the cylinder to varypressure therein.

12. In combination, a container having a head and a collapsible supplebody adapted to be flexed by pressure applied to the exterior thereofdirectly from the hand of a user and not subject to rupture by suchpressure, a tubular needle carried by the head and projecting therefrom,a plurality of supple material carrying vessels within the body eachadapted to be ruptured by pressure applied by the hand of the user atthe exterior of the container, and actuating means including a cylindercarrying the container, and a plunger operating in the cylinder to varypressure therein, the vessels and container being formed of likechemically inert material and the walls of the vessels being thinnerthan those of the body.

13. A device of the character described including, a closed imperviouscontainer of supple material and of such wall thickness as to bedeformable but not rupturable by pressure applied to its exterior by thehand of a user, a supple ma.- terial carrying vessel anchored in apredetermined position within the container and formed of supplematerial and of such wall thickness as to be subject to being rupturedby pressure from the hand of a user applied through the container fromthe exterior thereof, and a tubular needle in communication with thecontainer and projecting therefrom.

14. A device of the character described including, an impervious closedcontainer of supple material adapted to be flexed but not ruptured bypressure applied directly thereto by the hand of a user, a plurality ofseparate supple material carrying vessels within the container in apredetermined arrangement therein and subject to being individuallyburst by pressure from the hand of a user applied through the containerfrom the exterior thereof, and a tubular needle in communication withthe container and projecting therefrom.

16. In combination, a closed container having a head and a supple bodyeach adapted to be ruptured by pressure applied by the hand of the userat the exterior of the container, a tubular needle carried by the headand projecting therefrom, a supple material carrying vessel anchoredwithin the body and adapted to be ruptured by pressure from the hand ofthe user applied to the exterior of the body, and actuating meansincluding a cylinder carrying the container, and. a plunger operating inthe cylinder to vary pressure therein.

17. A device of the character described including, an impervious. closedcontainer of supple material adapted to be flexed but not ruptured bypressure applied directly thereto by the hand of a user, a supplematerial carrying vessel loose within the container and subject to beingburst by pressure applied by the hand of the user through the containerfrom the exterior thereof, and a tubular needle in communication withthe container and projecting therefrom.

18. In combination, a container having a head and a supple body eachadapted to be ruptured by pressure applied by the hand of the user atthe exterior of the container, a tubular needle car-- ried by the headand projecting therefrom, a supple material carrying vessel loose withinthe body and adapted to be ruptured by pressure from the hand of theuser applied to the exterior of the body, and actuating means includinga cylinder carrying the container, and a plunger operating in thecylinder to vary pressure therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 913,297 Krautschneider Feb. 23, 1909 921,130 Lockwood May 11,1909 937,029 Strong Oct. 12, 1909 1,023,499 Bell Apr. 16, 1912 1,782,938Pletcher Nov. 25, 1930 2,209,914 Gerber et a1 July 30, 1940' 2,251,527Smith Aug. 5, 1941 2,300,066 Schwab Oct. 27, 1942 2,418,392 Bender Apr.1, 1947 2,562,402 Winsten July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 728,280 France Apr. 11, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Handbook of Plasticsby Simonds, Weith 8: Bigelow, 2nd edition, 1949. A copy is in theScientific Library of the Patent Oflice. Pages 77, 78, 418, 419.

